Radioactivity measuring apparatus



Filed OCT.. l0 1951 INVENTOR. ALFRED WEINJI'EIN' BIY'QPAICIJ 7. BQIYIYER ATTORNEY United States atent O RADIOACTIVITY MEASURING APPARATUS Alfred I. Weinstein, Patchogue, and Francis T. Bonner, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignors to the United States of America as represented by the United States Atomic Energy Commission Application october 1o, 1951, serial No. 250,625v

s claims. (ci. 25e- 435) The present invention relates to an apparatus for measuring the radioactivity of an element in the gas phase.

In the investigation of various chemical reactions, radioactive tracers are used to study the mechanism of the induced transformations. As an illustration, radioactive tracer experiments using carbon-14 are of great importance because carbon is one of the principal con stituents of organic and biological material. However, the radioactivity of the C14 isotope is very diilicult to measure because of the low energy of its emitted beta ray. Various techniques for measuring C14 and other weak beta emitters have been developed using a gas containing this isotope as part of the Geiger counter iilling. This requires using a GeigereMiiller tube with a variable lling and has the disadvantage that reproducible behavior of the tubes cannot easily be obtained. Another disadvantage of this method is that part of the gas product produced in the reaction under analysis must be removed from the gas system in order to be measured, resulting in the loss of this amount of such gas product.

Another method for measuring Weak beta emitters is to seal the window of a standard thin window Geiger tube to a lluid flow system which contains the radioactive gas to be measured. In this method a relatively thick mica window must be used to withstand the great mechanical stress on that window caused by the high vacuum in the system. Accordingly, very weak beta rays that cannot penetrate the thick mica window will not enter the sensitive counting volume of the Geiger tube and cannot be counted.

The present invention permits a very thin window radiation counter tube to continuously monitor a radioactive gas in a iluid flow system without subjecting the window to any great mechanical stress. The apparatus permits the mica window to be isolated from the iluid flow system during the high vacuum pumping operation and when the system is subjected to higher pressures. Also, the apparatus can be used for the intermittent sampling of the ilowing gas Without disruption of the ilow.

More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for coupling a thin window radiation counter tube into a fluid flow system which comprises a tubular element partially circumscribing a chamber, the remainder of said chamber being bounded by the thin window of the counter tube. Means are provided for transmitting the uid in the system through the tubular element without communication with said chamber. Means for transmitting the lluid through the tubular element with communication with said chamber areI also provided. The tubular element is rotatably mounted in a conforming jacket which contains an inlet and outlet port for said fluid. Means are included for rotating the tubular element through at least two positions whereby the inlet and outlet ports are aligned with the first mentioned iluid transmitting means in one position and with the second mentioned lluid transmitting means in the second position.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to ice provide a new and improved apparatus for measuring low energy radioactive material in the gas phase.

A second object of theinvention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for coupling a thin window radiation counter tube to a iluid llow system without subjecting the thin Window to high mechanical stress.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for continuously or intermittently monitoring a radioactive tluid in a fluid flow system.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for measuring the radioactivity of a static gas sample at a measured pressure and volume.

The many objects and advantages of the present invention may best be appreciated by reference to the accompanying drawings, the figures of which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the drawings:

Figure l is a sectional view of the apparatus showing the interior construction details.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the lower portion of the apparatus after the rotatable element has been rotated from the position shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 but with the rotatable element shown at a third position intermediate those shown in Figures l and 2.

Referring to Figure 1, a conventional thin window radiation counter indicated generally by the numeral 10 and comprising an envelope 11, a cathode 12, an anode 13 and a thin mica window 14, is mounted on the male or valve portion 16 of a two-way hollow bore stopcock indicated generally by the numeral 17. The top central portion of the rotatable element 16 has been removed to form an open channel 18 and the remainder has been flattened to form a flange 19 which mates with a similar flange 21 on the bottom of the envelope 11 of the Geiger tube. The thin mica window 14 is cemented between the two flanges 19 and 21 to form an air-tight seal. The envelope 11 of the radiation counter tube is evacuated, filled with a counting gas and sealed. A generous portion 22 is left for further evacuations and lillings. Operating potentials and the output pulse of the Geiger tube are carried on conductors 23 and 24. Rotatable element 16 of the stopcock 17 also contains a tubular conduit 26 running laterally through the lower central portion thereof. Also drilled through the surface or" member 16 are two holes 27 and 28 circumferentially spaced approximately apart. The female portion or jacket 29 of the stopcock 17 contains an inlet port 25 and an outlet port 30 which are coupled between fluid conduits 31 and 32 by means of standard couplings 33 and 34.

In the operating position shown in Figure l, a uid flowing through conduit 31 will be transmitted through the stopcock 17 to conduit 32 by means of inlet and outlet ports 25 and 30 respectively and conduit 26. In this position lthe fluid flowing through the system is segregated from the chamber 35 circumscribed by the rotatable element 16 and the mica window 14. For future reference the above described position will be called position No. 1.

Referring now to Figure 2, the lower halt of stopcock 17 is shown with the rotatable element 16 turned approximately 90 from position No. 1 so that the hole 27 is aligned with inlet port 25, and hole 28 is aligned with outlet port 30. In this position gas owing from conduit 31 will pass through inlet port 25 and hole 27 into the chamber 35. The gas therefore will fill the internal chamber 35 of member 16 so that the radioactive material will be adjacent the thin mica window 14. Any radioactive particles emitted by the gas will easily penetrate the thin window 14 to enter the sensitive volume of the counter 1d wherein it will cause a breakdown between anode 13 and cathode 12 with a resulting output pulse on conductor 24. After the gas has communicated with chamber 35 it will be transmitted through hole Z8 and outlet port to fluid conduit 32. Therefore, in the operating position of the apparatus shown in Figure 2, the radioactivity of ali the fluid flowing between-conduits 31 and 32 will be continuously measured by the Geiger .counter 10. The above described position will be called position No. 2.

Referring to Figure 3, the rotatable element 16 of stopcock 17 is shown rotated to a position intermediate positions No. l and No. 2 so that neither the holes 27 and Z8 nor the conduit 2o are laligned with ports 25 and 30. In this position gas flow between conduits 31 and 32, is prevented by the surface of the rotatable element 1-6. This position will be called position No. 3.

in using the above described apparatus, the assembly is first installed between the conduits of the fluid 110W system wherein the reaction under investigation is to be carried out. Rotatable element 16 is then adjustable to position No. l so that the entire system can be evacuated. The sudden change in the pressure in the system d oes not affect the thin window 14 as the window is isolated from the rest of the system in this position. When the proper pressure level has been reached, the radioactive uid to be measured may be introduced into the system or the reaction under study may be started. lf it is desired to continuously monitor the radioactivity of the uid owing between conduits 31 and 32, the valve element 16 may be slowiy rotated to position No. 2 so that the chamber- 35 may be also evacuated without a sudden pressure change. in this manner a high vacuum in the entire system may be obtained without subjecting the thin window 1d to any large iiexural stresses. Therefore, a very thin window may be used with the apparatus to permit the measurement of very weak radioactive particle emitters.

The apparatus may also be used to measure samples of the fluid obtained at particular time intervals. To accomplish this, element 16 can be quickly operated from position No. l to position No. 2 and back to position No. l at the desired time intervals with little interruption of the uid fiow. The sample of the fluid is then counted while the remainder of the material continues to ow through the system.

Position No. 1 may also be used to isolate the thin window from the fluid ilow system after the radioactive measurements have been completed. This permits other measurements of the reaction under study to be taken without rearranging the chemical apparatus. For example, the variations of the reaction with pressure may be studied without any danger of rupturing the thin Window of the counter.

The apparatus can be used to count a static gas sample at a measured pressure and volume. This is obtained by operating the rotatable element 16 from position No. 2 to position No. 3.

it should be noted that in all the above described methods rising the apparatus, none of the -gas produced is lost to the system. Once the counting operation is finished, the sample is reintroduced into the system by operating clement 16 to position No. 2. Also, the radioactivity of the uid is measured as it is produced in the system without the necessity for converting it into a new compound. For example, in studying the reaction of carbon dioxide anc. charcoal to produce carbon monoxide, the radioactivity of the C14 tracer was measured as it left the charcoal. Normaily, the C14 would have had to be converted to CO2 l before its radioactivity could have been measured. In addition to the operational advantages already mentioned, the counter 10 can easily be removed from the system for refilling of the counting gas. The counter is mounted integrally with the top of element 16 so that it will rotate with that element and always maintain the same position with respect to the chamber 3S.

While the salient features of this invention have been described in detail with respect to one embodiment, it will of course be apparent that numerous modiiications may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention and it is therefore not desired to limit the invention to the exact details shown except insofar as they may be defined in the following claims.

We claim:

l. Apparatus for measuring relatively weak radioactivity in a fluid comprising in combination a rotatable tubular element having a chamber therein adapted to contain a fluid under pressure, a radiation detector mounted on said element for rotation therewith and having a thin window forming a part of the Walls of said chamber, said window being adapted to permit the passage of weak radioactivity to the active volume of said detector, a conforming jacket supporting said element and having an inlet and an outlet port for the uid, a conduit through said element for conducting a fluid therethrough while segregating the uid from said window, means for passing said uid through said chamber and means for rotatingV said element to at least two positions, in one of which said inlet and outlet ports communicate with said conduitV and in the other of which said inlet and outlet ports communicate with said duid-passing means.

2. Apparatus for measuring relatively weak radioactivity in a fluid comprising in combination a hollow, rotatable, tubular element forming a chamber adapted to contain a uid under pressure and having two pairs of passageways in the wall thereof, a radiation detector mounted on said element for rotation therewith and having a thin window forming a part of the walls of said chamber, said window being adapted to permit the passage of weak radioactivity from said chamber into the active volume of said detector, a conforming jacket rotatably supporting said element and having an inlet and an outlet port for a iiuid, a conduit through said element connecting one of said pairs of passageways for conducting a fluid through said element while segregating the fluid from said window, the other of said pairs of passageways communicating with said chamber and means for rotating said element to at least three positions, in one of which one pair of passageways is aligned with said inlet and outlet ports, in another of which the other pair of passageways is aligned with said inlet and outlet ports and in the third fluid flow through said inlet and outlet ports is prevented.

3. The apapratus of claim 2 in which the pair of passageways communicating with the chamber are circumferentially disposed apart in the wall of the element.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,081,688 Mohl Dec. 16, 1913 1,534,958 Huss Apr. 21, 1925 1,808,092 Wimmer .Tune 2, 1931 1,973,754 Geyer Sept. 18, 1934 2,552,723 Koury May 15, 1951 2,590,925 Borkowski et al. Apr. l, 1952 

1. APPARATUS FOR MEASURING RELATIVELY WEAK RADIOACTIVITY IN A FLUID COMPRISING A COMBINATION A ROTATABLE TUBULAR ELEMENT HAVING A CHAMBER THEREIN ADAPTED TO CONTAIN A FLUID UNDER PRESSURE, A RADIATION DETECTOR MOUNTED ON SAID ELEMENT FOR ROTATION THEREWITH AND HAVING A THIN WINDOW FORMING A PART OF THE WALLS OF SAID CHAMBER, SAID WINDOW BEING ADAPTED TO PERMIT THE PASSAGE OF WEAK RADIOACTIVITY TO THE ACTIVE VOLUME OF SAID DETECTOR, A CONFORMING JACKET SUPPORTING SAID ELEMENT AND HAVING AN INLET AND AN OUTLET PORT FOR THE FLUID, A CONDUIT THROUGH SAID ELEMENT FOR CONDUCTING A FLUID THERETHROUGH WHILE SEGREGATING THE FLUID FROM SAID WINDOW, MEANS FOR PASSING SAID FLUID THROUGH SAID CHAMBER AND MEANS FOR PASSING SAID ELEMENT TO AT LEAST TWO POSITIONS, IN ONE OF WHICH SAID INLET AND OUTLET PORTS COMMUNICATE WITH SAID CONDUIT AND IN THE OTHER OF WHICH SAID INLET AND OUTLET PORTS COMMUNICATE WITH SAID FLUID-PASSING MEANS. 